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Brain Tumors/Brain Tumor pronosis

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Expert: - 7/19/2008


Question
My father in law had a tumor remove from under his arm pit about a year ago.  It had apparently spread from skin cancer removed from his arm.  A couple of week ago he fell/passed out a couple of times.  He was taken to the hospital and found to have tumor/tumors in his brain.  He is ninety years old and does not want to treat it.  He is on Medicare Hosice and the family has arranged for 24 hours home care.  He presently has  good past memory but a poor short term memory.  He will ask questions over and over.  He has become very weak and has a hard time getting up and down.  My questions is how long does he have to live and what kind of health issues will arise?  When will we know it's the end?
Will he be in a lot of pain?

Answer
I suppose that this is a malignant melanoma that has spread. If so his expected survival time is anything from some weeks to a few months depending on tumor growth rate - which is unknown here. He will become more and more confused, will sleep more and more, then drift into a coma close to the end and then pass away. There will be little pain - if any.

Brain Tumors

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

Expertise

I`m a doctor of medicine and specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have a long time experience of these tumours.

Experience

I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy, educated and trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 . I have no restrictions on the number of questions there. I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer.

Education/Credentials
Doctor of medicine, specialist in medical oncology & radiation therapy.

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